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Science Matters

Later this month a unique opportunity presents itself for coding enthusiasts, students and practitioners. The third annual ModelOff Financial Modeling Competition starts Saturday, October 25th. Last year’s competition had over three thousand participants from around the globe. The event begins with two online rounds. Individuals who code successfully will be flown to New York City for the final round.

Our technological development helps us understand more and more about our world. For example, initially telescopes helped make some sense of the night sky and now we have wandering spacecraft that help answer deeper and more detailed questions about the cosmos. This technological growth seems to happen in various industries from space research to the smallest cells in our bodies. So, is there a better way to study our brain?

K-12 teachersacross Virginia are invited to participate in the first statewide BioTeach event on October 9th. The Virginia BIO Foundation, a non-profit foundation created to connect bioscience companies with teachers and students to stimulate career interest in the biosciences (BioSTEM), is hosting this teacher’s only event at locations throughout Virginia.

We hear a lot about the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) to our global economy. We are told that STEM is where the jobs are now and where job growth will be in the future. Chmura Economics & Analytics estimates STEM jobs to grow 18% in Virginia by 2024—nearly double the growth for non-STEM fields. This is why it is important to inspire middle and high school students to pursue Hot STEM careers.

Increasing global temperatures, glacial melt, and rising sea levels are a few of the more well-known issues regarding climate change. Considering that ultimately it’s all connected, other things will be impacted by the big changes, like the wind. How is our wind doing? Listen to this Question Your World radio report produced by the Science Museum of Virginia to find out.

Space, the final frontier…if you can get there that is. In 2011 The United States decommissioned the space shuttle program. So, how can we take our astronauts and scientists off Earth to continue research work?

Have you heard about the Maker Movement? Or are you already a Maker? If not, here’s your chance to join in. Science Matters and more than 65 makers, tinkerers, hobbyists and entrepreneurs will gather on Saturday, September 27 for the first RVA MakerFest.